2 years ago I bought an OCZ Vertex 2 drive that I installed in my C2D powered computer. It was my first SSD install and it took me quite a bit of time to get it up and running optimally.

I was unable to install Win 7 until I discovered I needed to download an Intel RST driver. I also I had to tweak my BIOS to use ACHI.

I was also recommended several minor modifications to optimize system operation. I do not remember exactly everything I changed but I do remember that it was recommended to move the temporary internet files to a folder located on a HD instead of keeping it on the SSD.

Is it still as complicated to install an SSD? What are the main things I need to do?

Does Win 8 make things easier?

I plan to build a new machine with an i3-3225 processor. I am not a gamer and the i3 will be powerful enough for my needs.

I have installed two Sammy 830s and found nothing complicated. Just cloned the old drives to the new and replaced 'em. Yeah, we were AHCI. and Acronis TIO 2013 took care of alignment and everything else.

#1 on the list is done automatically for you on win7 and 8.
#3 gives better performance on a modern SSD then on a spinner and the lifespan reduction is negligible enough for a home user as to not be needed.

So really its just enabling AHCI. Which actually you should do for a spinner as well as the performance improvement for a spinner is greater than it is for an SSD. (the reason for the performance improvement is NCQ)

TRIM driver support in IDE mode drivers used to be an issue early on but I am told they aren't anymore.

3) is a very stupid idea. That's exactly a scenario were the ssd shows it's main advantage. As was said write endurance is a non-issue for a consumer. I have my ssd for over 2 years and it shows like 99.99% lifetime left without having done any such "optimizations".

I plan to build a new machine with an i3-3225 processor. I am not a gamer and the i3 will be powerful enough for my needs.

Just make sure AHCI is enabled in your BIOS and proceed as if the SSD was a spindle drive. A new SSD on new hardware on a fresh install of a new OS takes zero consideration or planning. Just lick it and stick it.

As for the i3 being powerful enough for your needs...we don't know what your needs are, so we can't say if'n it'll be powerful enough for whatever it is you intend to do with it.

There is no tweaking of AHCI in BIOS. It's enable or disable. And the driver is needed for mechanical drives in AHCI as well (Windows 7 comes with a compatible AHCI driver for most Intel and AMD chipsets, but not for many external controllers like Marvel or JMicron). So I think your 'complication' here was getting to know AHCI, not SSD drives, per se.

I am retired and I use my computer 2 - 4 hours a day to surf the web, read emails and do some simple Word and Excel work. My needs are pretty basic but I want a FAST machine.

Do you think an i3 would be fast enough? Would I see a speed difference with an i5?

I have an i3 Sandy Bridge with a good SSD and I can assure you that it is a very fast system for regular tasks. The most important component in your system will be the SSD as you want fast disk access. You will see no benefit at all having an i5 unless you play games or do tasks like encoding or professional work.

Hopefully, you're running Windows 7. Enable AHCI and take it from there. I've moved some Desktop items to a secondary mechanical hard drive, but that's it. Pagefile, temp files, etc.? If the SSD I have now(Samsung 830) lasts a couple years, I'll have gotten my money's worth out of it.